Scorpion

Previously on Scorpion...

My entire school career, I have only missed three days.

- Here it comes. - And I've never had a tardy.

I actually just engineered this water filter.

If I can get one of these to every West Altadenian,

they would choose to use tap water over bottled

simply because of the taste.

Walter doesn't feel anything romantic towards me,

and-and I could never be attracted to him.

What's wrong with Walter? He's an amazing man.

Why-why would you never be attracted to him?

He and I are alike.

Too much head, too little heart.

'Cause that's what I need.

A smart man, sure,

but one who is sweet and caring and vulnerable.

Quinoa, chia-seed

Belgian waffle with a side of organic,

homemade vegan apple-butter.

So good. Syrup's optional. And I hope you're hungry.

Thank you, Chef Dineen.

I'm famished.

I just wanted to try a new, healthy breakfast, so be honest.

You know, I-I know that the syrup is optional,

but I would like to exercise the option.

Okay, no problem.

You're gonna dilute the flavor of the apple-butter.

That's the intention.

Now, Paige, I appreciate the effort,

but the waffles are dry and the butter is sour,

and the meal is missing, well, flavor.

I said be honest, not brutal.

Oh, it-it wasn't my intention to insult you.

I-I love you.

That's why I can't lie to you.

If I did, I would be

denying you the opportunity to improve.

Well, I thank you for that,

but sometimes it's okay to tell a white lie

in order to protect someone's feelings.

So, by your logic, I should continue

to eat the waffles, even though they're

unsatisfying and they lack nutritional value,

potentially affecting my cognitive function

and productivity?

It seems very inefficient.

Or, if you think a more judicious modulation

of the truth is worth practicing,

then I can give it a try.

I'd appreciate it. Oh!

Don't forget, the UCLA event tonight.

"Trigger Loop as a Major Determinant

"of Transcriptional Fidelity,

and Its Role in DNA Expression".

It's thrilling, right?

Looking forward to it.

And that's how it's done.

Of the three, this cup

tastes the best-- what brand is it?

It is actually filtered tap water

from right here in West Altadenia.

So far, 99.038% of pedestrians surveyed

haven chosen our tap over the leading bottled brand.

This water purifier attaches easily to your kitchen sink

in just three minutes.

You'll never have to buy bottled again.

Okay, thanks.

And be sure to tell your friends about your new filter.

All right, sure. And also, call your local DWP

and let them know how much you love

your new fresh-tasting water.

Great. Uh, this is a great idea.

Thanks. Uh, I have to...

And the science behind it is really fascinating.

I'm sure it is.

I have to get my dog to a vet.

I don't see a dog.

You see, the filter adjusts

the compound in a multistep process.

Ralphy-boy, I envy you.

Look at you, at your age, spending your spring break

saving the planet.

No one parties like I do.

- When's Patty get here? - Soon.

Thank you for your support.

Oh, excuse me, ma'am,

do you have a moment to learn about

water purification systems? - Sure.

Look at her,

engaging the constituency with science.

She's clearly enjoyed working with you on this project.

How about you seize the moment?

Ask her out already.

You know what, Ralph? You're right. I will go.

Hey, I'm ready for my shift. Where do you want me?

Where do I want you?

That's not normally how this works.

You boss me around, remember?

Hey, something wrong?

Nothing important.

No, hey, Patty,

if something's bothering you, it is important to me.

I had my first tardy this morning.

I don't want to talk about it.

Here's all the stuff.

Sylvester, I actually have to go.

I have a potential investor meeting for my binding agent.

Okay, yeah, um, well, thank you.

For all this.

Um... I, uh...

I...

Do you have something you want to tell me?

Yes. Yes.

Uh...

You know what? I can't remember.

Okay.

Well, when you do, you know where to find me.

Bye.

You missed your shot again.

There's something more pressing. Like what?

Patty Logan got a tardy.

Yeah.

Something serious must have happened.

We are gonna get to the bottom of it.

What is this?

Who replaced the coffee grinds with tree bark?

That's not tree bark, that's chicory.

What possessed you to do that?

Voodoo spirit. Got to get everybody in the mood

for our trip to the bayou.

At least I'll be wide awake for it.

Any other preparations I should know about?

He mapped out all his favorite New Orleans sites,

mostly food-related.

Babe, this could be my last hurrah

before this potential bambino comes,

so I got to make it count.

Last time I was in NOLA

was 2012 to bet on March Madness,

and I made a killing, so I stayed for Mardi Gras,

and from what I remember, I had the time of my life.

You do remember we're going there to work, right?

Every party has a pooper.

That's why you're here.

What part of shrinking

an overgrowing, virus-carrying

mosquito population is a party?

A potentially fatal, Zika-like virus.

This is not to be taken lightly.

If I was taking it lightly, Mon Cher,

I wouldn't be sequestering my bride

and the potential bun in her oven in the garage

to stay away from all those scary skeeters.

Okay, you know you're probably just talking

to my breakfast burrito.

And you didn't sequester anyone.

I am voluntarily staying back.

Don't worry, I'm gonna bring you back lots of beads.

Uh, that must be Dr. Ditterman at State College

of New Orleans Entomology.

He said he had an update for us

before we fly down.

I'm so glad I was able to catch you before you left.

Dr. Ditterman, are you okay? You look a little pale.

We've just had an update from the CDC.

Uh, they're not divulging this information to the public,

but the infection rate from the mosquito virus

is significantly higher than previously reported.

How much higher?

The CDC is now aware

of over 1,300 cases across the Southeast.

1,300? Why were they keeping that under wraps?

Symptoms often present as the flu or pneumonia,

so it's been easy to miscalculate.

And there have been 60 fatalities already.

Well, that's almost a five percent mortality rate.

So I assume the CDC is keeping this secret

to prevent a mass exodus in the region.

And the abandoned properties would just become

breeding grounds for more mosquitoes.

And those who stayed behind would be overrun by the virus.

That's the CDC's assessment, too.

With rainy season days away, the mosquito population

could expand tenfold.

This disease is on the verge of becoming an epidemic.

Does our existing plan still work?

These sterile male mosquitoes

that we have genetically engineered,

and your team have replicated, can still be

released into the local ecosystem.

They will mate with the females,

who will produce no offspring,

killing off a generation of mosquitoes

and the virus that they carry.

We followed your instructions to the letter.

Sterile mosquitoes are ready for distribution.

Given the new developments, I was hoping that we could just

disperse the mosquitoes ourselves.

The release site needs to be precisely calculated

and it can change according to barometric pressure